Comments on: An Immigrant's Actual J-1 Visa Work & Travel Experience

By: Lily

Lily — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:22:46 +0000

Hi, I’m a visiting scholar holding J1 visa restricted by the home residency rule. Can I open a samll business here and come back soon? What kind of visa do I need when I come back?

By: e3visa

e3visa — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:59:12 +0000

Hi Donald,
The home residency rule only applies to J1 Visa Professional/Practical Training visas which are generally issued for 18 months not the Work and Travel visas. Your actual visa stamp in the passport will tell you if you are subject to that rule. Many people transfer to the F1 visa from the J1 visa and most of the process is handled by the school you are attending.
Cj

By: Donald

Donald — Thu, 27 May 2010 08:20:58 +0000

How possible is it for a J-1 WAT student change to the F-! visa status and continue studies in the States? If the application is approved, will a visa be issued while in the States if I’m not subject to the section 212(E), 2 year home-residency rule?

By: e3visa

e3visa — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:41:24 +0000

Hi Debora,
The Work and Travel J1 visa transfer to another visa would have to be approved prior to your expiration date on March 15 (so not the grace period) which doesn’t leave you much time as the processing of US Visa transfers are not quick usually.
So you may be better off applying for the new Internship J1 visa outside the US afterwards.
I am not sure what country you are from so don’t know whether you are able to come to the US as a tourist with or without a visa. However denials for any visa can effect your chances of being approved for a B1/B2 tourist visa if they think you are using it to work or stay in the US.
Good Luck,
CJ

By: Débora

Débora — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:38:02 +0000

Hi!

I’m in New York through the program Work and Travel.
My J1 visa expires next March 15th, and I still have the 30 days Grace Period.

I would love to stay here longer, but legally. I do have a company who wanna hire me. Can I transfer for other J1 visa? Do I need to go to my country to get another visa?

If I ask to change my visa and they deny, can I come back later?

Thanks a lot,

Débora

By: e3visa

e3visa — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:49:55 +0000

Hi Mik,
Yes there are plenty of experiences of many visa types including the J1 visa if you read the many posts.
If you are interested in the J1 visa Work and Travel program, look at sponsor organizations like CIEE, Intrax, Inter Exchange, etc. They are designated by the US Government as official sponsors. You can actually work for most types of companies with some exceptions as you can see on their sites.
Good Luck,
CJ

By: Mik

Mik — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:19:19 +0000

This was a good insight into what i think im about to do to myself it would be nice to hear more experiances from people!

and what company you used to sponser you over???

cheers